Pandya brothers knock out Knight Riders, Sunrisers qualify


Skillful bowling from the Pandya brothers and sensible batting from Mumbai Indians’ captain Rohit Sharma launched them to No.1 on the points table.

The result knocked out Kolkata Knight Riders and put Sunrisers Hyderabad in the playoffs. Despite their defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday, Sunrisers will now face Delhi Capitals in the Eliminator in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

Asked to bat first on a slower-than-usual Wankhede track, Knight Riders stuttered to 133 for 7 with Robin Uthappa’s go-slow encapsulating their struggles. Hardik Pandya was Rohit’s fifth-bowling option on Sunday, but he made the biggest impact by dismissing Chris Lynn and Shubman Gill in back-to-back overs. At the other end, Krunal Pandya kept cramping batsmen for room and although he ended wicketless he was also central to Mumbai’s smothering of Knight Riders.

Rohit then led the chase with a measured half-century.Rohit would be unstoppable, though. He didn’t take any undue risks – he didn’t need to – and just knocked the ball into the gaps. He raised his second half-century of the season off 44 balls when he punched Harry Gurney to sweeper cover in the 15th over.

With the asking rate dropping to under six, Suryakumar Yadav also had the luxury of taking his own sweet time to find some form. But from 19 off 17 balls, he zoomed to 46 off 27 balls to seal Knight Riders’ fate. Mumbai wrapped up the victory with nine wickets and 23 balls to spare.

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